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TWENTY-ONE

ROGUE

I hold Wren tightly in my arms, overwhelmed with emotion. My daughter knows who I am. Willow told her the truth.

"I love you too, Daddy," Wren says, her little arms wrapped around my neck.

I look up at Willow over Wren's head, trying to convey my gratitude and love with just a look. She gives me a small smile, her eyes shining with unshed tears.

"Hey sweetheart," I say gently, pulling back to look at Wren. "How about we go get some ice cream to celebrate? If it's okay with your mama, of course."

Wren turns to Willow with pleading eyes. "Can we, Mama? Please?"

Willow nods, her voice soft. "Of course, Little Bird. You two go ahead. I need to talk to Aunt Natalia for a bit."

As I lead Wren out of the room, I can't help but feel like everything has changed. My daughter knows who I am. I'm not just "Rogue" anymore—I'm her father. The weight of that responsibility settles on my shoulders, but it feels right. Like this is who I was always meant to be.

We make our way to the clubhouse kitchen, where I scoop out generous portions of ice cream for both of us. As we sit at the table, Wren looks up at me with curious eyes.

"Daddy?" she says, testing out the word. "Why didn't you live with us before?"

I take a deep breath, trying to figure out how to explain our complicated history in a way a five-year-old can understand. "Well, sweetheart, your mama and I... we had some problems a long time ago. But that doesn't mean I didn't love you. I've always loved you, even before I knew about you."

Wren nods, seemingly satisfied with this explanation for now. "Are you going to live with us now?"

The innocent question catches me off guard. "I don't know, honey. That's something your mama and I would have to talk about. But no matter what, I'll always be here for you. Okay?"

"Okay," Wren says, turning her attention back to her ice cream.

As we finish our treat, I can't help but marvel at how quickly my life has changed. Just a few weeks ago, I was a man with nothing but regrets and a dangerous lifestyle. Now, I'm a father, with a daughter who knows me and accepts me.

When we return to the room, Willow is alone, Natalia having left. She looks up as we enter, her eyes immediately going to Wren's ice cream-smeared face.

"I see someone enjoyed their treat," she says with a small laugh.

As Willow cleans Wren up, I can't take my eyes off them. This is my family. The thought fills me with a mixture of joy and determination. I will do whatever it takes to protect them and keep them safe.

"Thank you," I say softly to Willow when Wren goes back to her coloring. "For telling her. It means more than I can say."

Willow gives me a small smile. "It was time. She deserved to know the truth."

I nod, wanting to pull her into my arms but restraining myself. We've made progress, but I know we still have a long way to go.

"Willow," I start, my voice low, "I know this situation isn't ideal, but I want you to know that I'm here, for both of you. Whatever you need."

She looks at me for a long moment, her eyes searching mine. "I know," she says finally. "And I appreciate that, Rogue. I really do. But..."

"But?" I prompt gently when she trails off.

Willow sighs. "But I'm still scared. Not just of the danger out there, but of letting you back in. Of getting hurt again."

Her honesty hits me like a punch to the gut, but I appreciate it. "I understand," I tell her. "And I don't expect you to just forget everything that happened. All I'm asking for is a chance to prove myself. To you and to Wren."

Willow nods slowly. "Okay," she says. "For Wren's sake, I can try to put the past behind us, but it’s not going to be easy."

It's not everything I want, but it's a start. And right now, with my daughter finally knowing who I am and Willow willing to give me a chance to show that I’m not the same man that hurt her, it feels like more than enough.

As I'm walking past Willow's room late that night, I hear a soft whimper. I pause, listening intently. There it is again—the sound of rustling sheets and a low whimper. Wren’s spending the night in Natalia’s room, wanting to have a sleepover with her aunty, so Willow’s alone.

Without thinking, I open the door quietly. In the dim light filtering through the curtains, I can see Willow thrashing in her sleep, her face contorted in fear.

"No... please... stop..." she mumbles, clearly in the throes of a nightmare.

My heart clenches at her obvious distress. I approach the bed cautiously, not wanting to startle her.

"Willow," I say softly. "Little Flower, wake up. It's just a dream."

She doesn't wake, instead letting out another whimper that tears at my soul. Unable to stand seeing her in such pain, I make a decision.

Carefully, I climb onto the bed beside her. I gather her gently into my arms, cradling her against my chest.

"Shh, it's okay," I murmur, stroking her hair. "You're safe. I've got you."

Willow stiffens for a moment, then seems to relax into my embrace. Her breathing slowly evens out as the nightmare releases its grip on her.

I continue to hold her, my cheek resting on the top of her head. The familiar scent of her shampoo fills my senses, bringing back a flood of memories.

After a few minutes, I feel Willow stir. She lifts her head, blinking up at me in confusion.

"Rogue?" she whispers. "What...?"

"You were having a nightmare," I explain softly. "I heard you as I was passing by. I hope it's okay that I came in."

Willow is quiet for a moment, and I worry that I've overstepped. But then she surprises me by laying her head back on my chest.

"Thank you," she murmurs. "For being here."

I tighten my arms around her slightly. "Always, Little Flower. I'll always be here for you."

We lay in silence for a while, neither of us willing to break the moment. I can feel Willow's heartbeat against my chest, steady and reassuring.

Finally, Willow speaks again, her voice barely above a whisper. "It was about that night. When Storm..."

I tense, anger flaring at the mention of that bastard's name. "I'm so sorry, Willow. For everything that happened. For not protecting you."

Willow lifts her head to look at me, her eyes shining in the dim light. "You're here now," she says softly. "That's what matters."

Before I can respond, she stretches up and presses her lips to mine. The kiss is gentle, tentative, but filled with a warmth that spreads through my entire body.

When we break apart, I rest my forehead against hers. "Willow," I breathe, my voice rough with emotion. "Are you sure about this?"

She nods slowly, her eyes never leaving mine. "I'm tired of being afraid, Rogue. Of letting the past control me. I want... I want to try. With you."

My heart soars at her words, but I force myself to remain calm. "We can take it slow," I assure her. "There's no rush."

Willow smiles softly, tracing my jaw with her fingertips. "I know. But right now, I just want you to hold me. Can you stay?"

"Of course," I say, settling us both back down on the bed. I pull her close, reveling in the feeling of having her in my arms again after so long.

As we lay there in the quiet darkness, I feel a sense of peace wash over me. For the first time in years, I feel like I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be.

"I love you, Little Flower," I whisper into her hair, not sure if she's still awake to hear it.

But a moment later, I hear her soft reply. "Thank you, Ezra."

It may not be the words I want to hear, but she said my name, something I haven’t heard in five years. I close my eyes, finally allowing myself to hope for the future I've always dreamed of—one with Willow and Wren by my side.

As morning comes, I wake to find Willow still nestled in my arms, her breathing deep and even. For a moment, I simply watch her sleep, admiring how peaceful she looks.

Then reality comes crashing back. We're still in the middle of a war with the Shadow Hawks. Willow and Wren are still in danger. And despite the progress we've made, I know we still have a long way to go to fully rebuild the trust between us.

But for the first time in years, I feel truly hopeful.

I press a gentle kiss to Willow's forehead, silently vowing to do whatever it takes to keep my family safe and happy. No matter what it costs me, I will protect them. Always.